Digital Transformation in Manufacturing...

Automation and Digital transformation have gone from slogan to a necessity in manufacturing and it all starts with gathering data and understanding where it is needed and what technologies can help maximize return on investment. Now manufacturing has realized it’s a “must have” if they want to stay in business. But this does not mean that digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation is new to them. The truth is that that they have been laying the groundwork for this over the course of several years. They may not feel that they have a full-blown smart factory in place just yet because of some outdated processes layered over that groundwork. But the basics are there, it’s all about roots. That’s why it makes so much sense for them to embrace all 3 D’s – digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation.

 

Here are few key elements of 3 D’s they always have in their back pocket –

  • Common Sense: Manufacturing & common sense have always gone hand in hand. Chances are things that don’t make sense simply aren’t going to work and thus aren’t worth their time. That’s the same approach they should use when it comes to 3 D’s. By letting common sense be their guiding light, they can avoid falling from empty promises and instead leverage ‘there D’s” in ways that line up with reality.

  • Waste Reduction: Manufacturing has a long history of trying to avoid waste. Just look at the entire concept of lean manufacturing. Its natural inclination toward doing things the simple way and can handy when they are planning their one of the “D’s”. After all, with so much new technology and so many solutions to shift through, it’s important to stay focused on decisions that will deliver value without creating waste in other areas.

  • Human Value: Say what you want about automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning – technology is still no match for the human brain. People can do things that BOT will never be able to replicate. However, this instinctive protection of human value isn’t contrary to the goals of digital transformation, in fact it is complimentary. Digital transformation is not about replacing people with technology. Its all about meeting customer demand without the ability to increase the size of workforce. Using the existing workforce in smarter way and keep the companies alive.

So, what does this mean for manufacturing? Simple: they just need to go back to their roots and begin building their digital transformation strategy around the values they already have in place. With this approach, digital transformation feels like less of unknown to them.

 

Although they already have foundation for digital transformation in place as I said above, but it is also important for them to remember that this journey is all about improvement. This isn’t about taking their old habits and doing exact same thing on computer. It’s about expanding their horizons leveraging data analytics and new technologies of automation to make a deference in their production and supply chain environment.

 

Before I conclude, one question came to my mind – ‘what will happen when they complete’ their digital transformation journey? Because so far in this article we are talking only about constant progress.

 

“This journey doesn’t have a finish line” that’s because the whole idea is based on evolution; as the technology changes; the definition of digitization continues to expand, and digital transformation as a concept also grow to encompass new industry need and goals.

 

Digital transformation in manufacturing isn’t about building a cocoon, sitting, and waiting for change. Its about stepping up and taking active role in building the industry. While employing digital transformation framework it is also very important to avoid copying themselves or becoming “version 2.0”. Take those underlying values, erase the outdated processes layered on to top and build something new.


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